Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Here is another take on the recently released Daring to Lead 2011 report of 3000 nonprofit executive directors from www.PhilathropyJournal.org. The findings would indicate that a significant number of nonprofit executives will be leaving their roles over the next five years due to frustrations with funding, boards, and lack of work/life balance.

Highlights or Lowlights:
· Sixty-seven percent of executives plan to leave their jobs within five years, down from 75 percent in in similar studies in 2006 and 2001.

· With one in six leaders age 60 or older, for example, 22 percent of that group said a loss in their retirement savings contributed to a transition delay.

· Forty-five percent of respondents said their boards had not reviewed their performance within the past year and only 18 percent said their performance review was useful.

· Thirty-three percent of current executives followed a leader who was fired or forced to resign, "indicating the frequency of mis-hires and unclear expectations between boards and executives across the sector," the study says.

· Nonprofits are not prepared for executive transition.

· Satisfaction with board performance was lowest among leaders on the job between one and three years.

· Only 17 percent of organizations surveyed have a documented succession plan, and just 33 percent of executives were very confident their boards will hire the right successor when they leave.

· Eighty-four percent said the recession had had a negative impact on their organization. Forty-six percent said their organizations had operating reserves of less than three months of expenses.

· The study offers a series of recommendations to improve transition planning, understanding of financial sustainability, professional-development options and performance and composition of boards.
In my work, I am seeing fewer nonprofit executives targeting the traditional retirement age of 65 as their date. Even those who are ready to step out of full-time leadership roles in their late 60’s are looking for another paid role – some for the financial aspect and almost all because they value the work and the people in the nonprofit sector. If your organization doesn’t have at least a written Emergency Succession Plan, we can do a short session with your Executive Committee or board to generate some good thinking and draft a plan. Bryan 752-7153

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Eight years ago, I wrote the first version of "Welcome to the Board" as a training handout for participant's in LLA's first 'Get on Board' - board member recruiting event. Theresa Rhodes at LLA was kind enough to cover the copying costs for me. It was a family project to fold and staple 100 booklets. Unexpectedly, the new board members who took those booklets back to their boards prompted orders "for every board member" and we were in the publishing business.

Over the following two years, I wrote three more short booklets, "Finance for Every Board Member", "Fund Raising for Every Board Member", and "Planning for Every Board Member" with the same intention, to make board information accessible to expanding numbers of new board members. We wrapped all four titles under the label of "Too Rushed to Read" to further convey the short length.

Since that time we have sold more than 25,000 copies, total, of these four booklets - probably in every state. We have sold them in sample packs of one of each title and we have sold them by the hundreds for conferences and even university classes, but we have mainly sold them 10-20-30 at a time to nonprofits who use them as they recruit and/or train new board members or work to expand the perspectives of longer term board members.

As part of Charitable Advisors continued evolution, we see much of this type of information moving on-line and will be exploring options to develop our next generation of training and education. Right now, we have just over 1,000 booklets left in inventory and all four titles but we know that some titles will run out before others.

Save 20% plus get a FREE Training CD and Facilitator Guide, while they last!

I guess I am old school, but I still like to hold books in my hands and know many of your current and future board members feel the same way. We want to clear off our shelves and give you a chance to purchase them at a good price - only $4-5 a copy. Go to: http://www.charitableadvisors.com/ordercdbooklets.html and enter code "Promo7" and then hit apply and it will show a 20% discount on everything you purchase on that page. With each order, we will also include a free Training CD and Facilitator Guide, a $55 value.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A couple new board members can bring much needed energy to a nonprofit board. I have been excited to be part of the Get on Board event in Indianapolis since it started in 2003. Hosted by the Lacy Leadership Association(LLA), it brings more than 60 nonprofits together each year in one energetic setting to provide current and aspiring community leaders with an opportunity to meet board and staff members from nonprofits of all kinds – arts, education, youth, health, social services and more. The goal for exhibiting organizations, and attendees, is to find that special connection of interest, skills, and motivation to make a difference. Since its inception, this premier community event has infused more than 1,800 new board members, committee members and volunteers into the community as they have become involved with hundreds of nonprofits. This year’s event is on Monday, October 3 from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse. If you attended last year, you will be pleased to hear that the floor plan is being expanded and there will be plenty for room for attendees.

Due to the high demand for exhibitor space, non-profit organizations are chosen to exhibit through a comprehensive application process. Applications are now available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/GOBexhibitor. Deadline to submit an application is August 5 at 5 p.m.

In order to be eligible to be selected for this year’s event you must:Complete the on-line application in full by August 5.http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GOBexhibitor
Submit payment to LLA for the $75 exhibitor fee (Your payment will not be processed unless you are selected to exhibit).

Commit to having at least one representative attend a mandatory exhibitor orientation in early-mid September. Date TBD

Once all applications are submitted they will be reviewed by a selection committee. The review and selection process will ensure a cross-representation of all areas of service. You will be notified in late August if you have been chosen to exhibit.

If you would like to attend as an individual and find opportunities to become a board member, you can register at http://www.lacyleadership.org/GetOnBoard.html, then the Attendees tab. There is no charge to attendees for this event. Please note that this is not a forum for seeking a job or soliciting business from these nonprofits.

If you have any questions about Get on Board, the exhibitor application or selection process, please contact Susie McKenna at 317.631.6542 ext. 133 or susiem@cicf.org